A Qashqa'i (Shishboluki) Small Mat, South Persia

A QASHQA'I (SHISHBOLUKI) SMALL MAT, SOUTH PERSIA, LATE 19TH CENTURY “The field contains two rows of stiff flowering plant forms with lateral blooms growing up from a bulbous root. There are erratic fills, some are fragments of the main motif. The dark blue (abrashed) ground of [the] main field contrasts with the red ground of [the] single border that is a flower and vine meander typical of larger Qashqa’i pieces. A single band of checkered blue and white is found at the top and bottom with a single row of weft twining and extended warps, some with tassels. The knots are asymmetrical, open to the left, wefts in red wool with two shoots, warps in pigmented grey wool.” (Benjamin, op.cit., LITERATURE: 3rd ed., 2004, pp. 74-75 “This mat or yastik [cushion cover] is in excellent condition with a complete pattern and satisfying appearance, despite its small size. These types of floral patterns often seem to occur in the borders of Shishboluki rugs (page 37 in Opie, J. Tribal rugs of Southern Persia, James Opie Oriental Rugs Inc, Portland, Oregon).” (Benjamin, op.cit., p. 74)